Electric low-water alarm.



No.-654,067. Patented July l7, I900.

F. LEADBEATER.

ELECTRIC LOW WATER ALARM.

(Application filed. Apr. 2, 1900. (No Model.)

61 R 4! g V +HH O P fl I H O m m; 60/ #3 //Al O 5 I o O I 0 J1 J- o z 0 J3 fl O T T J I WITNESSES. INV'ENTOR.

UNITED STATES PATENT 1 Oiuucn.

FREDERICK LEADBEATER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ELECTRIC LOW-WATER ALARM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,067, dated July 17, 1900.

Application filed April 2 1900- To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK LEAD BEATER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented'a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Low-Water Alarms; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as, will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

- My invention has for its object an electric low-water alarm of superior efficiency and utility and also of superior simplicity and economy of construction; and it consists of the structure, combination, and arrangement of devices hereinafter specified and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying draw ings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing also an electric circuit in diagram. Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section showing parts in elevation. Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1.

The desirability of a low-water alarm that will not be liable to get out of order, but which may be depended upon to give a desired signal when the water is low in a steam-boiler, is well understood.

I carry out my invention as follows:

A denotes a water-column of ordinary construction provided with a water-glass B. Into this water-column is engaged a tubular arm 0, into which water and steam may pass from the water-column when the water is low. Communicating with the arm 0 is a tube D, made of copper or other suitable expansible material. At its upper end is a cap E.

' F is a rod having a threaded engagement with the cap at its lower end, as indicated at and sleeved into a pipe G at its upper end. Extending into the pipe or sleeve G is a rod I-I, provided with a spring I and normally in contact with the upper end of the rod F. Where the upper end of the rod F contacts with the sleeve G, suitable insulation (indicated at g) is provided. The rod F'is constructed to permit the engagement therewith of a suitable wrench or analogous utensil, as indicated at f, to adjust said rod in its en Serial No. 11,064. (No model.)

gagement with the cap E. A lock-nut upon the rod F is indicated at f The pipe D is engaged with the pipe 0 by an elbow or pipefitting J of special construction, the same being provided with a suitable cook or valve K to facilitate the cleansing of the pipe D, if required.

L denotes a standard supported upon the elbow or pipe-fitting J. 111 order to support said standard, said elbow is constructed with an attaching-flange J, projecting laterally upon either side of the pipe 0, as shown, and the standard L is constructed at its lower end with a similar flange (indicated at L) pr0- jecting laterally on either side of the pipe 0, so as to fit upon and be engaged with the. flange J, the standard being engaged with the flange J. in any suitable manner, as by boltsj. At its upper end the support L is provided with a bracket-arm M, in which the pipe G is engaged. The upper end of the pipe G may be provided with a cap G,througl1 which the rod H passes. Supported upon the bracket M is a contact device N, said contact device being insulated from the bracket, as indicated at n n. with a binding-post, (indicated at 112,) and the contact device N is provided with a bindingpost at, an electrical conductor P being connected with said binding-post. In said conductor is located a battery Q and a signal device-as a bell, for example, (indicated at R.)

The rod F, it will be observed, has a movable engagement in the rod or tube G. In the upward movement of the rod F the rod H will be carried upward therewith, while when the rod F descends the spring I will move the rod H downward in a correspond= ing manner.

The operation of the device will be understood. When the water is low in the watercolumn A, steam will pass through the pipe 0 into-the pipe D, heating the pipe D and causing it to expand, the expansion moving the rod F upward. The rod F will be so adjusted that when steam has expanded the rod D electrical contact will be made by the rod II with the contact device N, closing the electrical circuit and sounding the alarm.

In the electrical circuit may be located a switch S, if desired, to turn off the alarm when sounded, as otherwise it would continue The bracket M is provided to sound until the expansible rod or tube D had cooled sufficiently to break the contact of the rod H With the contact device N.

The Water-column may be provided with customary gage-cocks T. Instead of engaging the pipe 0 into the Water-column through a special orifice made therein, as indicated in Fig. 1, the lower gage-cock T may be removed from the Water-column and the arm C be engaged with the water-column thereat, thereby simplifying the matter of engaging the device upon the water-column, if preferred.

It will be observed that by supporting the standard L upon the fitting or elbow J the device may be entirely supported upon the pipe 0. This construction materially facilitates the engagement of the alarm device upon a water-column, as only the pipe 0 is to be engaged with the column.

What I claim as my invention is' 1. In an electric low-Water alarm, the combination with a steam-pipe, of a contact device, a support for said contact device, a sleeve carried by the upper end of said support, an electrical circuit connected with said contact device, an expansible tube comm unicating at its lower end with said steam-pipe, a rod supported upon the upper end of said tube, an additional spring-actuated rod above the first-named rod movable in said sleeve by the expansion of said tube and projecting therethrough to contact with said contact device to close the circuit, and a signal device in said circuit.

2. In an electric low-Water alarm, the combination with a steam-pipe, of a contact device, a support for the contact device, an electrical circuit connected with the contact device, an expansible tube communicating at itslower end with the steam-pipe, a sleeve carried by said support at the upper end thereof, a rod connected at its lower end with the upper end of said expansible tube and movable at its upper end in said sleeve, an additional rod movable in said sleeve by the expansion of the tubr and projecting therethrough to contact 3' ith the contact device and close said circuit, means to retract said additional rod, and a signal device in said circuit.

3. The combination with a steam-pipe, of a contact device, an electrical circuit connected with the contact device, an expansible tube communicating at its lower end with the steam-pipe, a cap at the upper end of said tube, a rod having an adjustable connection with said cap, an additional rod above the first-named rod movable with the expansion of the expansible tube to contact with the contact device to close said circuit, means to retract said additional rod, and a signal device in said circuit.

4. In an electric low-Water alarm, the combination of a steam-pipe, an expansible tube communicating therewith, a standard supported upon said pipe provided with a bracket at its upper end, a sleeve carried by said bracket, a rod carried by the expansible tube having a movable engagement with said sleeve, a spring-actuated rod movable Within the sleeve with the expansion of said tube, a contact device carried by said standard, an electrical circuit in connection with said standard and with said contact device, and a signal device in said circuit, said circuit being closed by the expansion of said tube to actuate the signal device.

5. In an electric low-Water alarm, a steampipe, an expansible tube, a pipe-fitting connecting said tube into said steam-pipe provided with an attaching-flange, a standard supported upon said flange, a contact device carried by said standard, a sleeve carried by said standard, and means engaged in said sleeve and with said tube to form electrical contact with the contact device when the tube is expanded to close the electrical circuit, and a signal device in said circuit.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK LE ADBEATER.

Witnesses:

N. S. WRIGHT, M. HIoKEY. 

